The France defender had been expected to return after the international break but Wenger said he will not be fit to face Manchester United on November 22.

“He cannot run,” said the manager. “He has not started running outside so you cannot think he will be available in two weeks time. Then you have to see how he responds to going outside and running. He will not be available for three or four weeks.”

Asked if Arsenal had missed Koscielny, Wenger said: “Well, yes and no. You miss him every time you concede a stupid goal. You think: ‘Oh, if he was there’, but we have conceded some with him as well.

“Look, ideally we want him here. Could we have stopped the (Anderlecht) goals without Koscielny? I say yes.”

After Anderlecht, Per Mertesacker called on Arsenal to defend better as a team.

“I believe we defend quite well from up front in Welbeck and Sanchez,” Wenger retorted tersely.

Wenger insisted he will be happy for Walcott to play for England after making his first appearance since January last weekend following his cruciate ligament injury.

“Roy Hodgson is free to do what he wants,” said the Frenchman. But Wenger added: “He has been out 10 months. People think it’s like machines.

"These are human being and to get back into rhythm of top top competition it takes time. It takes two months. Once you’re back in full training, you count two months.”